Speculations in the Potterverse...

[RLD360 at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 104540

Some people will perceive this as preachy, and I apologize for that.  It 
isn't my intent.  It is, however, my opinion.  Take it as you will.  I felt the 
need to post this after reading the ongoing ping-pong match on various 
characters.  Fascinating stuff, lots of theories on the whys and wheretofors of actions 
taken and things said.

I've enjoyed reading all of these, btw.  Personally, I'm not on any 
particular side of the fence when it comes to wether any of the characters are "good" 
or "bad."  I think JKR has done a fabulous job in making everyone, starting 
with Harry, a nice shade of grey.  From my perspective, that leaves a lot of room 
for personal interpretation of the facts we are given.  Which is the point 
I'm now going to make...it's our perspective.  Colored by our own experiences, 
intellect, and levels of compassion (compassion lit. "suffering with") or 
dislike for certain people and the situations they create or find themselves in.

Writers are always given one basic rule to start from...write what you know.  
JKR has stated on various occassions that she has based a number of her 
characters on actual people she knows.  They may now be in a magical setting, but 
the basis for them lies in everyday people and events, they are archetypes for 
humanity.

I, for example, can see bits of myself in someone like Sirius.  A character 
which, ironically enough, had to grow on me the way mold does on bread.  I 
wouldn't say I'm a fan of his, but I can say that I relate to his experiences.  I 
grew up in a home where I was (and still remain) the black (no pun intended) 
sheep.  Now, I find myself back in the family home because circumstances beyond 
my control have brought it on me.  I feel very much like a prisoner, forced 
to relive every day the things I've spent a lot of time trying to forget, or at 
the very least, be at peace with.  The years of whittling away at my anger 
until it was manageable, the years of rebuilding my soul, suddenly falling back 
into the place that I wished never to see again.  I can see myself in Sirius' 
behavior, good and bad.  I can be all the things that he is disliked for, and 
I can be all the things that he is loved for.  And I can be everything in 
between.  It all depends on my choices and how they are perceived.  In the end, 
only I truly know what motivated them.  And even then I could be wrong, fooling 
myself.

My point in all of this as relates to the Potterverse?
  
1.) I could be entirely wrong in my perceptions of the character's words or 
actions.  

2.) I could be entirely right in my perceptions of the character's words or 
actions.  

Only the one who wrote it, JKR, actually knows the intent behind it.  Or not. 
 And by this I'm not saying that speculating on various characters or 
incidents is wrong or anything of the sort!  I do that myself all the time.  I'm only 
human, afterall.  <g>  Just that we should have respect for everyone's 
opinion, even if it differs drastically from ours.  Don't be condescending, don't be 
patronizing, don't be a smart ass.

Just have some respect and compassion for your fellow posters.  It makes 
everything go better.

In the immortal words of Stan Lee, 'nuff said.


"RLD360"